Sinn Féin : Pressure put on Teachers as TDs in line for Pay Increase – Cullinane

9 January, 2017 - by David Cullinane TD

Sinn Féin TD and spokesperson for Public Expenditure and Reform David Cullinane has criticised the government for its continued bullying of ASTI members while awarding TDs a pay rise, saying genuine dialogue and a commitment to equal pay for equal work is needed to settle the dispute.

The Waterford TD said:

'It is galling to see the government talking of blocking pay equality for teachers when TDs are in line for a €10,000 pay increase.

'The Lansdowne Road Agreement failed to address the issue of pay inequality for post-2011 entrants, while giving partial pay restoration to those on wages over €65,000.

'In this context, it is wrong for TDs to jump the queue.

'Sinn Féin put forward a motion calling on all TDs to forgo this increase in solidarity with low to middle income workers in the public sector, but it was blocked by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil under the mantle of 'new politics'.

'Sinn Féin TDs and Senators will not be taking this increase, and we will continue to call for genuine dialogue and for equal pay for all post-2011 entrants in the public sector.'